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Independent Alaskans should vote 'yes' on Proposition 2

Posted: Monday, October 25, 2004

Historically, the U.S. government is on the wrong side of important social issues. For example, slavery was legal for more than two centuries; disenfranchisement of women was the norm until early this past century; prohibition was the greatest turmoil our society has ever experienced, creating organized crime; segregation was accepted, codified and defended.

Eventually, someone took the lead in these causes, and sanity prevailed. Isn't it time to rethink and adjust our approach to the "war on drugs"? Someone has to take the lead. Why not Alaska? We exemplify the spirit of independence for the entire United States, because we have the courage to try.

Annually, the taxpayers spend more than $70 billion to arrest, convict and incarcerate more than 570,000 of our neighbors. We've done this for more than 70 years without any positive results. That is worse than crazy; it's stupid. Families are destroyed, careers terminated because of irrational fear.

The Feds' normal response to this kind of challenge is to request another study. Every one of these studies have shown the most harm caused by using marijuana is being caught and prosecuted.

If you feel you need a Nanny to make decisions for you, vote against Proposition 2. If you are an independent Alaskan, follow the Alaska credo: vote for privacy and independence.